Device for handling a bone screw

ABSTRACT

A device for handling a bone screw to be connected with a vertebral rod includes an essentially cylindrical and hollow housing and an adjustment tool which axially traverses the housing and which has a section provided with an outer threading and is screwed into an internal threading of the housing, wherein the housing is constructed pliers-like and has a first and a second jaw which relative to the user each have a proximal and a distal end, wherein the distal ends engage at the head of the bone screw, wherein the two jaws are pivotably connected with each other via a pivot axis which is situated between the distal and proximal ends and extends orthogonally in relation to the longitudinal axis of the housing, and wherein the internal threading of the housing is provided on a proximal end of a single one of the jaws.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of prior filed copending U.S.application Ser. No. 14/257,404, filed Apr. 21, 2010, the priority ofwhich is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. §120, and which claims thepriority of German Patent Application, Serial No. 10 2013 207 183.3,filed Apr. 20, 2013, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d), the disclosuresof which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for handling a bone screw.

The following discussion of related art is provided to assist the readerin understanding the advantages of the invention, and is not to beconstrued as an admission that this related art is prior art to thisinvention.

A device of this type is known from EP 1 694 226 B1. This device servesfor connecting a bone screw, which is anchored in a bone, in particulara vertebra, with a vertebral rod. For this purpose the bone screw has aforked head into which the vertebral rod is inserted and where it isfixed by means of a grub screw or by means of a cap nut. In order tojoin the forked head with the vertebral rod, a device is required withwhich the vertebral rod is inserted or slid between the two legs of thefork head. The device is constructed in the manner of pliers and has twojaws whose proximate ends face toward the user and whose distal endsengage on the head of the bone screw. The two jaws are articulately orpivotally interconnected via a transverse axis so that a pushingtogether of the proximal ends causes an opening of the distal ends sothat the bone screw can be grasped.

In order to move the vertebral rod in the direction of the fork head ofthe bone screw, an adjustment tool is provided which is screwed betweenthe two jaws. For this the adjustment tool has a section with an outerthreading, which is screwed into an internal threading provided on theinsides of the two jaws. A disadvantage is that the internal threadingis configured as two threading halves, as a result of being provided onthe two insides of the jaws. On one hand the manufacture of the internalthreading is relative work intensive because after assembling the twojaws the threadings, in particular their transition from one jaw to theother jaw, has to be in perfect alignment, on the other hand the supportof the jaws for pivoting relative to each other causes a relativelygreat play between the internal threading of the jaws and the outerthreading of the adjustment tool.

It would therefore be desirable and advantageous to provide an improveddevice in which the adjustment tool is guided more precisely in thehousing of the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, a device for handlinga bone screw to be connected with a vertebral rod includes: anessentially cylindrical and hollow housing constructed pliers-like andhaving a first jaw and a second jaw which relative to the user each havea proximal and a distal end, wherein the distal ends engage at a head ofthe bone screw, wherein the two jaws are pivotably interconnected via apivot axis which is situated between the distal and proximal ends andextends orthogonally in relation to a longitudinal axis of the housing,wherein an internal threading of the housing is provided on the proximalend of a single one of the first and second jaws; and an adjustment toolaxially traversing the housing, wherein the adjustment tool has asection provided with an outer threading and is threadably engaged inthe internal threading of the housing.

According to the invention, the device is formed by a housing, which isessentially formed by a jaw in which the internal threading is provided,and into which the adjustment tool is screwed with its outer threading.On this housing a jaw is pivotally connected so that the head of thebone screw can be grasped with this jaw. In the region outside of thesection provided with the internal threading the housing is alsoconfigured as a jaw and together with the other jaw serves as graspingtool.

A simple releasing and grasping of the head of the bone screw isachieved in that the two jaws do not cross over. This achieves that whenthe proximal ends of the two jaws are pushed together, the distal endsopen and the head of the bone screw can be received. In addition themounting of the jaws according to the invention is significantly simplerthan in the case of jaws which cross over.

According to another advantageous feature of the invention, one jaw maybe fixed relative to the longitudinal axis of the internal threading andthe other jaw is pivotal. The fixed jaw thus forms the housing or ispart of the housing of the device and carries the internal threading forthe adjustment tool.

According to the invention the jaw carrying the internal threadingprotrudes over the other jaw in axial direction in particular with itsinternal threading. The other jaw is inserted in a recess of the fixedjaw and thus completes the sheath of the fixed jaw. This recess has nothreading.

According to another advantageous feature of the invention, theadjustment tool is constructed at least two-part in axial direction andhas a rotatable section which is provided with the outer threading and arotatively fixed section which engages on the vertebral rod. In this waythe rotating movement of the adjustment tool with which the adjustmenttool is screwed into the housing of the device, is not transmitted tothe vertebral rod but merely into the axial displacement of theadjustment tool inside the housing of the device. The vertebral rod isthus carefully urged onto the fork head. The two sections of theadjustment tool are rotatable relative to each other but cannot bedetached from each other.

According to another advantageous feature of the invention, therotatively fixed section is guided in longitudinal direction between thetwo jaws. For this the rotatively fixed section has for example two pinswhich project radially outwardly and engage between the two jaws andprevent a rotation of the rotatively fixed section relative to thehousing.

According to another advantageous feature of the invention, the one jawengages in the turns of the outer threading of the adjustment tool whenthe proximal ends of the jaws are pushed together. When the adjustmenttool is not yet screwed into the housing to the degree that its outerthreading protrudes over or out of the internal threading, the movablejaw can still be pushed inwardly, i.e., the bone screw can be grasped atits head with the device. When the adjustment tool is further screwedinto the internal threading of one of the jaws and the outer threadingprotrudes over the internal threading in distal direction, theadjustment tool blocks the two jaws from being pushed together, inparticular the proximal end of the movable jaw can no longer be pushedin because it abuts on the internal threading of the adjustment tool. Asa result, the two jaws can no longer be pushed together so that the bonescrew is securely held by the device. An inadvertent release of the bonescrew from the device is thus prevented.

According to another advantageous feature of the invention, theadjustment tool is configured hollow and the hollow body has a diameterwhich essentially corresponds to the outer diameter of the head of thebone screw. The adjustment tool has a wall thickness which essentiallycorresponds to the two legs of the fork head so that a grub screw can bescrewed through the adjustment tool between the two legs into the forkhead of the bone screw and thereby the vertebral rod fixed in the headof the bone screw.

According to another advantageous feature of the invention, the outerthreading of the adjustment tool has a diameter that is greater than theinternal threading of or the distance between the pushed togetherproximal ends of the jaws. As mentioned this prevents the two proximalends of the jaws from being inadvertently pushed together when theadjustment tool is screwed into the housing. An inadvertent release ofthe bone screw from the device is thus not possible.

According to another advantageous feature of the invention, the housingand/or the adjustment tool has receptacles for additional holding and/orturning handles. With these holding and turning handles the lever can beincreased on one hand for holding and on the other hand for operatingthe device and as a result the device can be operated more sensitively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be morereadily apparent upon reading the following description of currentlypreferred exemplified embodiments of the invention with reference to theaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device in a position during use;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the device taken in the direction of the arrowII according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view onto the device taken in the direction of the arrowIII according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the device;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the device with completely screwed inadjustment tool; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective representation of the device with additionalholding and turn handles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Throughout all the Figures, same or corresponding elements are generallyindicated by same reference numerals. These depicted embodiments are tobe understood as illustrative of the invention and not as limiting inany way. It should also be understood that the drawings are notnecessarily to scale and that the embodiments are sometimes illustratedby graphic symbols, phantom lines, diagrammatic representations andfragmentary views. In certain instances, details which are not necessaryfor an understanding of the present invention or which render otherdetails difficult to perceive may have been omitted.

Turning now to the drawing, and in particular to FIG. 1, there is showna device overall designated with reference numeral 10 with which a bonescrew 12 can be grasped. In the shown exemplary embodiment this bonescrew 12 is configured as polyaxial screw with a screw shaft 14 and afork head 16. This fork head 16 has two parallel legs 18 which embrace avertebral rod 20. The device 10 has a housing 22 which is axiallytraversed by an adjustment tool 24. An integrated turn handle 26 islocated on the adjustment tool 24, with which the adjustment tool 24 canbe rotated in the housing 22. The housing 22 is held on an integratedholding handle 28.

As can be seen form FIG. 2 the housing 22 is essentially constructedtwo-part and has a first jaw 30 which has a section on which the holdinghandle 28 is formed. The housing 22 is completed by a second jaw 34which is fitted into a recess 36 of the first jaw 30. The two jaws 30and 34 are articulately interconnected via a pivot bearing 40 whichextends transverse to the longitudinal axis 38, so that when pushing thetwo proximal ends 42 and 44 together, whereby in particular the proximalend 44 is pushed into the recess 36, the distal ends 46 and 48 moveapart from each other so that the fork head 16 can be pushed between thetwo distal ends 46 and 48. In the region of the proximal ends 42 and 44restoring springs 50 are arranged which urge the two proximal ends 42and 44 back into their starting position. As can be easily seen fromFIGS. 1 to 3, the instrument 10 is operated with one hand in that thehandle 28 is held with four fingers and the proximal end 44 is operated,in particular pushed in, with the thumb of this hand. In this way thefork head 16 of the bone screw 12 is grasped.

FIG. 4 shows the device 10 in its individual parts and an internalthreading 52 in the section 32 of the first jaw 30, i.e., in the handle28, can be recognized. An outer threading 54 is screwed into thisinternal threading 52, which outer threading 54 is provided on a section56 of the adjustment tool 24.

It can further be recognized that the adjustment tool 24 is constructedtwo-part and has a first section 58 which has the outer threading 54,and a second section 60 which are interconnected so that they can berotated relative to each other, but are non-detachable in axialdirection. This occurs by way of a press-fit stem of which press-fitstem points 62 can be recognized. The pivot bearing 40 is formed by twobearing bolts 64, which engage in the corresponding receptacles 66 and68 in the two jaws 30 and 34. The restoring springs 50 are supported inindentations 70. An end position of the two jaws 30 and 34 is achievedvia stops 72 and 74, which prevent the distal ends 46 and 48 to pivotinto a fully closed position. These ends 46 and 48 have circumferentialgrooves 76 in the internal surface for grasping an indentation 78 in thefork head 16 of the bone screw 12.

When the two jaws 30 and 34 are joined, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, alongitudinal slot 82 forms between these two jaws 30 and 34, into whichpins 84 which radially protrude from the second section 60 engage. Thesepins 84 prevent a rotation of this second section 60 so that the lattercan only be moved in the direction of the longitudinal axis 38. Thefirst section 58 on the other hand is guided so as to be screwable inthe first jaw 30.

On the distal end of the second section 60 two extensions 86 are locatedwhich on their free ends each have an indentation 88 with which thevertebral rod 20 can be pushed in the direction of the fork head 16.This vertebral rod 20 is displaceable within a longitudinal slot 90 (seeFIGS. 1 and 2) which is also formed between the two jaws 30 and 34, andis moved during screwing in of the adjustment tool 24 in the directionof the bone screw 12.

In FIG. 5 the adjustment tool 24 is further screwed in than in FIG. 1.It can be seen that the outer threading 54 axially protrudes out of thesection 32 in which the internal threading 52 is provided, so that theouter threading 54 reaches the pivot region of the proximal end 44 ofthe second jaw 34. This jaw 34 can no longer be actuated, in particularthe proximal end 44 can no longer be pushed in so that there is no riskthat the fork head 16 of the bone screw 12 detaches from the distal ends46 and 48, i.e., from the device 10. When the adjustment tool 24 isscrewed in, the bone screw 12 is thus secured on the device 10.

A grub screw can then be inserted in the direction of the longitudinalaxis 38 via the central opening in the handle 28 by means of a suitabletool and screwed into the fork head 16 and with this the vertebral rod20 can be fixed on the bone screw 12.

In the case greater forces or exact torques have to be exerted, thedevice 10 can be equipped with additional external tools as shown inFIG. 6. On one hand an additional external handle 94 can be fastened onthe handle 28 in that a receiving fork 96 with inwardly protruding pins98 is pushed onto the handle 28 so that the pins 98 engage pinreceptacles 100 which are axially open in the direction of the proximalend 42 and are distributed over the circumference.

In addition the turn handle 26 can be provided with an external turnhandle 102 in that an adapter 106 which has a toothing 104 is insertedinto the central opening 92, onto which adapter 106 the turn handle 102is pushed, which can be form fittingly connected at flanks 108 with theadapter. The turn handle 102 has a torque limiter 110 and can beswitched from left turning to right turning.

With the device 10 according to the invention a bone screw 12 can beconnected to a vertebral rod in a simple manner.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in connectionwith currently preferred embodiments shown and described in detail, itis not intended to be limited to the details shown since variousmodifications and structural changes may be made without departing inany way from the spirit of the present invention. The embodiments werechosen and described in order to best explain the principles of theinvention and practical application to thereby enable a person skilledin the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments withvarious modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims and includes equivalents of theelements recited therein:

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for handling a bone screw to beconnected with a vertebral rod, said device comprising: an essentiallycylindrical and hollow housing defining a longitudinal axis andincluding a first jaw and a second jaw, each of the first and secondjaws having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal ends of thefirst and second jaws engaging at a fork head of the bone screw, thefirst jaw including a shell-shaped section and a cylindrical sectionwhich has an internal threading, and the second jaw including ashell-shaped section configured to complement the shell-shaped sectionand the cylindrical section of the first jaw to jointly form thehousing, with the proximal end of the second jaw being distal withrespect to the cylindrical section of the first jaw, said first andsecond jaws being interconnected for rotation about a pivot axis whichis situated between the distal and proximal ends of the first and secondjaws and distal with respect to the cylindrical section of the firstjaw, said pivot axis extending orthogonally to the longitudinal axis ofthe housing, wherein the first and second jaws are configured to notcross over each other, and an adjustment tool axially traversing thehousing, said adjustment tool having a section provided with an outerthreading for threaded engagement in the internal threading of thecylindrical section, said adjustment tool being displaceable in adirection of the longitudinal axis by screwing so as to push a distalend of the adjustment tool against the vertebral rod placed within thefork head and thereby move the vertebral rod along the longitudinal axisin a direction of the fork head.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein inrelation to the longitudinal axis of the housing the first jaw is rigidand the second jaw is pivotable.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein theadjustment tool is constructed of at least two parts, with a firstproximal part being rotatable and including the section with the outerthreading and a second distal part being a rotatively fixed sectionhaving the distal end for pushing against the vertebral rod.
 4. Thedevice of claim 3, wherein the rotatively fixed section is guided in thelongitudinal direction between the first and second jaws.
 5. The deviceof claim 1, wherein the adjustment tool is constructed as a hollow body.6. The device of claim 1, wherein the adjustment tool has an outerdiameter essentially corresponding to an outer diameter of the fork headof the bone screw.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of thehousing and the adjustment tool has a receptacle for attachment of anadditional holding or turn handle.
 8. The device of claim 1, furthercomprising an external handle structured for attachment to the housingor the adjustment tool to exert a force or torque to the housing or theadjustment tool.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein the adjustment toolincludes a first turn handle with a central opening, an external secondturn handle, and an adapter configured for insertion into the centralopening, said external second turn handle being fitted onto the adapterfor form fittingly connecting the external second turn handle to theadjustment tool for allowing application of a greater force or exacttorque.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the adjustment tool isconstructed for movement between a first position, in which the externalthreading is positioned proximal to the proximal end of the second jaw,and a second position, in which at least a portion of the externalthreading axially coincides with the proximal end of the second jaw,wherein in the first position the proximal end of the second jaw ispivotable into a position radially inwardly relative to the internalthreading thereby causing the distal ends of the first and second jawsto move apart from each other for receiving the fork head of the bonescrew, and wherein in the second position the at least one portion ofthe external threading prevents inward pivoting of the proximal end ofthe second jaw.